Thinking about starting the new year alcohol-free, but don’t want to do it alone?

You can still join the Dry January Experience waiting list and be first in line when early enrollment opens on December 19th. Waiting list members receive early access and an exclusive discount.

👉 Join the waiting list here: nomorewasteddays.co/waitinglist

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Episode Summary

In today’s episode of the No More Wasted Days podcast, Sara sits down with Suzanne Warye, author of The Sober Shift, host of the Sober Mom Life podcast, and founder of the Sober Mom Life Café.

This is an honest, grounded conversation about motherhood, identity, shame, and the moment many women quietly realize that alcohol is taking more than it’s giving. Suzanne shares her powerful story of becoming “spontaneously sober,” why moderation is a trap for so many women, and how alcohol culture has deliberately targeted exhausted, overwhelmed moms.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you “qualify” for sobriety, or felt like you should be able to make drinking work even though it never really does, this episode will land deeply.

Suzanne also shares why she wrote The Sober Shift, and how it’s designed for women who don’t relate to rock-bottom stories but still know something feels off.

Suzanne Warye is the author of The Sober Shift, host of the Sober Mom Life podcast, and creator of the Sober Mom Life Café, a supportive community for mothers exploring alcohol-free living. Her work focuses on dismantling shame, questioning drinking culture, and helping women reclaim their time, energy, and identity.

You can find Suzanne on Instagram at @suzannewarye and learn more about her work at suzannewarye.com.

If this conversation sparked something in you and you’re craving a fresh start with real support, now is the perfect time to get on the Dry January Experience waiting list. Early enrollment opens December 19th, and waiting list members receive a special discounted rate.

And if you haven’t already, please consider leaving a review or comment on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, or YouTube. Sara reads every one, and your feedback helps this message reach the women who need it most.

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Follow the podcast on Social Media:

IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod

Follow Sara on Social Media:

IG: @no_more_wasted_days

TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Get on the Dry January 2026 waiting list if you know you’re ready for a reset. You’ll receive early enrollment access plus a discounted rate.Sign up at nomorewasteddays.co/waitinglist.

Most women who struggle with alcohol never fit the stereotype of the “daily drinker.” They function well, they hold everything together, and from the outside, everything looks fine. Yet inside, alcohol is shaping far more than they realize.

In this episode, Sara breaks down how to recognize when drinking is running your life, even if you don’t drink every day. She explores the subtle signs of low grade dependency, how mental energy becomes entangled with alcohol, and why frequency does not equal severity.

Whether you are still drinking or already alcohol free, this episode will help you see your relationship with alcohol with more honesty, clarity, and compassion.

1. Why frequency isn’t the real issue

2. The four signs alcohol may be running your life

3. The brain chemistry behind “needing a drink”

Sara breaks down dopamine spikes, cortisol crashes, and why anxiety lingers for days after drinking. She highlights why even inconsistent drinking still keeps the reinforcement loop alive.

4. What gray area drinking actually is

Most women who feel stuck in the start-and-stop cycle aren’t “alcoholics.” They’re gray area drinkers living in quiet chaos, often rewarded by society for coping silently.

5. Why a meaningful break changes everything

Taking 30 days off alcohol stabilizes the nervous system, exposes what alcohol has been costing you, and gives you a first glimpse of the peace and clarity you’ve been chasing.

6. The questions that matter more than ‘How much do I drink?’

Sara offers reflection questions to help you evaluate whether alcohol is supporting your life or slowing it down.

Get on the Dry January Waiting List

If this episode hit home, consider joining Sara for Dry January 2026. You’ll receive early enrollment access and a discounted rate when doors open.

→ Sign up free at nomorewasteddays.co/waitinglist.

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Follow the podcast on Social Media:

IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod

Follow Sara on Social Media:

IG: @no_more_wasted_days

TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

In today’s episode, Sara sits down with author and advocate Celeste Yvonne, whose book It’s Not About the Wine cuts straight through the noise of mommy wine culture and exposes what’s really going on behind the scenes.

This conversation digs into the political and psychological systems that encourage women to drink, profit from their burnout, and quietly benefit when mothers are overwhelmed, numb, and too exhausted to challenge the status quo.

Sara and Celeste unpack how alcohol became the “acceptable” coping mechanism for modern motherhood, why women are drinking more than ever, and how targeted marketing turned female exhaustion into a trillion-dollar opportunity for Big Alcohol. If you’ve ever wondered why drinking feels so normalized for moms or why quitting sometimes feels rebellious, this episode will connect the dots.

They also explore what happens when women finally step out of that fog. Spoiler, clarity changes everything. From relationships to emotional patterns to political awareness, sobriety becomes a form of awakening, and that awakening has a ripple effect.

If you’ve felt the spark of something waking up inside you, this episode will fan that flame.

Celeste Yvonne is a writer, speaker, and author of It’s Not About the Wine: The Loaded Truth Behind Mommy Wine Culture. Her work has been featured in the Washington Post, Today Show, and Good Morning America. You can follow her  on social media @theultimatemomchallenge (on Instagram, Facebook, and TikTok) or on Substack.

Dry January is coming, and I’m hosting my biggest 30-day alcohol-free experience starting January 1. You’ll get daily support, coaching, and a community that actually understands what you’re working toward. Join the waiting list for first access and an exclusive discount.

Join the waitlist: nomorewasteddays.co/waitinglist

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If something in this conversation stirred something in you, don’t ignore it. Dry January is right around the corner, and this is your chance to start the year clear, grounded, and fully back in your power. My 30 Day Alcohol Free Experience begins January 1, and the women who join this challenge always walk out with more confidence, more energy, and a level of clarity they didn’t know they were missing.

Get on the waiting list today so you’re the first to know when enrollment opens and you’ll unlock an exclusive discount only available to waitlist members. If you’re craving a reset or a real change, this is your moment to take it.

Join the waitlist: nomorewasteddays.co/waitinglist

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Follow the podcast on Social Media:

IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod

Follow Sara on Social Media:

IG: @no_more_wasted_days

TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Time is running out to  join the Day Makers Community for two weeks for $1. Join today for coaching, connection, and support. www.nomorewasteddays.co/daymakers.

Thanksgiving used to be one of my biggest drinking holidays. It was chaotic, wine-soaked, and every year followed the same pattern, exhaustion, resentment, chasing a buzz, and then waking up the next morning wishing I could take parts of it back.

In this episode, I’m pulling back the curtain on all of it, the wine-day traditions, the resentment of cooking, the Black Friday hangovers, my first sober Thanksgiving while pregnant with the twins, and the moment I finally learned what a peaceful, present holiday could feel like without alcohol.

Today, I’m walking you through six powerful strategies to help you step into an alcohol-free Thanksgiving with clarity, confidence, and a sense of rebellion against the belief that alcohol is required to survive the holidays.

These are the deeper strategies, not the basic “bring a mocktail” tips you’ve heard a million times. You’ll learn how to find the exact moment your cravings spike, how to pre-decide your identity before the day begins, how to use sensory anchors to stay grounded, and how to design micro escape routes that keep you steady and empowered.

You’ll also get a grounded gratitude practice that avoids the toxic positivity trap and helps you stay connected to the moments you genuinely want to remember.

This episode is your permission slip to reclaim the holiday as something peaceful, joyful, and fully yours.

In This Episode You’ll Learn:

The Six Strategies I Walk You Through:

A Final Reminder - This is the last episode where you can join the Day Makers for just $1 for two weeks. If you feel that tug in your gut pulling you toward something more, don’t ignore it. Step in now and surround yourself with people who understand your journey.

Join here: nomorewasteddays.co/daymakers

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Follow the podcast on Social Media:

IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod

Follow Sara on Social Media:

IG: @no_more_wasted_days

TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

If the darker months tend to stir up cravings, low motivation, or the urge to numb out, this is your sign to plug into real support. For November only, you can try the Day Makers Community for two weeks for just $1. Get coaching, connection, and stability during the hardest season of the year. Join at www.nomorewasteddays.co/daymakers.

Winter can be one of the most challenging seasons to stay alcohol free. Shorter days, less sunlight, gray skies, and changes in routine can mess with your mood and energy. In the Pacific Northwest, Sara calls it the Big Dark for a reason. In this episode, she breaks down why the winter blues happen, why they hit harder when you are alcohol free, and the practical strategies that help you stay grounded instead of slipping backward.

Sara shares the story of her first winter living in a camper trailer on the land while building her house. The lack of natural light, heavy rain, and isolation hit stronger than expected, and it became the first time she truly understood how intense the winter blues can feel, even deep into sobriety. She now approaches every winter with intention and has built a winter-specific sober toolkit to stay emotionally steady.

Through personal experience and research, this episode teaches you how to recognize winter blues, how to distinguish them from seasonal affective disorder, and how to protect your alcohol free identity during the months when cravings or old coping mechanisms may begin whispering again.

You will leave with five winter-proof strategies that help you stay energized, connected, and proud of your choices, even when the season feels heavy.

Light exposure and environment

Routine and structure

Movement, connection, and purpose

Ask for support when things feel off

Mindset reframing

The winter blues are real, and they are rooted in biology and environment. But with preparation and intentional practice, you can navigate this season with confidence instead of slipping into old patterns. Winter can become a powerful part of your alcohol free story, a season of inner strengthening, and a time to build the resilient version of yourself who will step boldly into spring.

If you want support through the darker months, this is the perfect time. For November only, you can try the Day Makers for two weeks for just $1. Join the coaching calls, connect inside the community, and learn the tools that make winter feel lighter.  Start your trial at nomorewasteddays.co/daymakers.

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Follow the podcast on Social Media:

IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod

Follow Sara on Social Media:

IG: @no_more_wasted_days

TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

This November, you can join the Day Makers Community for just $1 for your first two weeks. Connect with like-minded people, rebuild your confidence, and start creating a life you love alcohol-free. Join now at nomorewasteddays.co/daymakers

When you first quit drinking, your biggest goal might simply be to make it through each day alcohol-free and that’s huge. But what happens when you start to feel ready for more?

In this episode, you’ll learn:

Key takeaways:

Sara’s Big Goals Example:

Each of these milestones began with the same foundation: daily commitment, self-trust, and a willingness to dream bigger without alcohol.

Join the Day Makers Community

For the month of November only, you can try the Day Makers community for just $1 for your first two weeks. Inside, you’ll find:

Join today at nomorewasteddays.co/daymakers

If this episode inspired you, please follow, rate, and review No More Wasted Days. Every share helps more people discover a life beyond alcohol—one that’s purposeful, grounded, and full of possibility.

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🌟 Want deeper support on your alcohol-free journey?

👉 Learn more and join us here: https://nomorewasteddays.co/day-makers-community/

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Follow the podcast on Social Media:

IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod

Follow Sara on Social Media:

IG: @no_more_wasted_days

TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Sara sits down with her friend Chelsea Bohnstedt, a yoga instructor and certified sound healer, to talk about her powerful alcohol-free journey. At the time of recording, Chelsea is 562 days sober, but her path to get here was far from linear.

Chelsea opens up about:

Sara and Chelsea also share stories from their time together at the Sober Tahoe Adventure Retreat and reflect on how sound healing and self-care practices can unlock powerful emotional healing.

“Taking care of yourself is the most rebellious thing you can do. Especially as a woman.” – Chelsea Bohnstedt

If you loved this episode, please rate and review the show!

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🌟 Want deeper support on your alcohol-free journey?

👉 Learn more and join us here: https://nomorewasteddays.co/day-makers-community/

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Follow the podcast on Social Media:

IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod

Follow Sara on Social Media:

IG: @no_more_wasted_days

TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Ready to finally break free from alcohol—and stop the cycle of numbing? Start your journey today with the Refresh & Reboot: 30 Day Alcohol-Free Challenge. This self-paced program gives you daily guidance, mindset tools, and video support from Sara to help you thrive through your first 30 days without alcohol.

Podcast listeners get 20% off with code PODCAST20 at checkout.

When you quit drinking, you expect the hard part to be over, but sometimes, the brain finds a new outlet for the same addictive patterns. In this episode, Sara opens up about her personal experience with transfer addictions - how her addictive tendencies shifted from alcohol to food tracking, sugar, and weed, and what she learned about herself in the process.

Through stories, science, and self-compassion, Sara breaks down:

You’ll also hear Sara share research-backed insights on dopamine regulation, neuroplasticity, and the incentive sensitization theory, explaining why we crave even when we no longer enjoy the thing we’re craving.

Whether your new obsession is sugar, scrolling, or staying “in control,” this episode reminds you that awareness is the first step toward freedom.

01:16 Understanding Transfer Addictions

03:36 Promoting the 30-Day Alcohol-Free Challenge

04:43 Realizing Transfer Addictions

07:40 Defining Transfer Addiction

10:40 The Science Behind Addiction

20:27 Recognizing and Managing Transfer Addictions

22:06 Practical Tools for Overcoming Addictions

26:02 Conclusion and Final Thoughts

🎧 Mentioned in this episode:

💬 If this episode resonated with you:

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🌟 Want deeper support on your alcohol-free journey?

👉 Learn more and join us here: https://nomorewasteddays.co/day-makers-community/

********************************************

Follow the podcast on Social Media:

IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod

Follow Sara on Social Media:

IG: @no_more_wasted_days

TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Sara discusses the mindset shift that helped her quit drinking effortlessly. She shares strategies from her personal journey, including writing daily affirmations, developing an unwavering commitment to sobriety, and adopting new identities.

00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview

00:29 Early Days: Building Momentum

00:54 The Game Changer: 100 to 150 Days

01:09 Mindset Shift: Practical Steps

02:52 The Power of Affirmations

05:18 Deciding to Quit Forever

11:22 Identity and Willpower

12:52 Planning for Success

20:27 Creating a Support System

24:08 Final Thoughts and Encouragement

🎧 Mentioned in this episode:

If you want to dig deeper into what’s really happening in your body during a hangover — from dehydration to acetaldehyde toxicity — here are the research-based resources referenced in this episode:

💬 If this episode resonated with you:

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🌟 Want deeper support on your alcohol-free journey?

👉 Learn more and join us here: https://nomorewasteddays.co/day-makers-community/

************************************************

Follow the podcast on Social Media:

IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod

Follow Sara on Social Media:

IG: @no_more_wasted_days

TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial

Sara dives into one of the most unforgettable parts of drinking → hangovers. From her worst-ever hangover in Punta Cana to the subtle shame-filled Sundays that followed too many nights out, Sara breaks down how hangovers evolved throughout her drinking years and how they became one of the biggest motivators for her sobriety.

She doesn’t stop at personal stories. Sara also explores the science of hangovers: what’s actually happening inside your body and brain when you’re feeling miserable the next day. You’ll learn why alcohol leads to dehydration, inflammation, anxiety, and that 3 a.m. wake-up, plus why “hair of the dog” only keeps the cycle going.

If you’ve ever wondered why hangovers hit so hard or need a vivid reminder of what you’re leaving behind, this episode is your reality check and your motivation to keep choosing a hangover-free life.

00:00 Introduction to the Podcast and Today's Topic

02:28 The Worst Hangover Experience

09:00 Evolution of Hangovers Over the Years

15:34 The Science Behind Hangovers

25:06 Conclusion

🎧 Mentioned in this episode:

If you want to dig deeper into what’s really happening in your body during a hangover — from dehydration to acetaldehyde toxicity — here are the research-based resources referenced in this episode:

💬 If this episode resonated with you:

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🌟 Want deeper support on your alcohol-free journey?

👉 Learn more and join us here: https://nomorewasteddays.co/day-makers-community/

************************************************

Follow the podcast on Social Media:

IG: @nomorewasteddays.pod

Follow Sara on Social Media:

IG: @no_more_wasted_days

TikTok: @no_more_wasted_days

Facebook: www.facebook.com/NoMoreWastedDaysOfficial